Company
Date Published
Author
David Ruddock
Word count
1899
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Declarative Device Management (DDM) is a framework launched by Apple in 2021 that revolutionizes device management by enabling faster and more efficient enforcement of configuration and security policies on devices through a proactive approach. DDM is particularly beneficial for mobile device management (MDM) providers and large enterprises, as it allows for the creation of complex management workflows while reducing unnecessary server-to-device communication. The framework relies on three pillars: Declarations, Status Channel, and Extensibility, with Declarations being the most critical as they define settings and content delivery in a modular, many-to-many relationship model. DDM's proactive nature means that devices can independently update and enforce policies based on changes in their status, with minimal server communication. However, for large-scale enterprise operations where precise control and real-time monitoring are crucial, Desired State Management (DSM) offers a more robust solution by providing cloud-based management with real-time visibility and control. DSM complements DDM, allowing organizations to maintain a single source of truth across diverse device fleets while ensuring compliance and efficient management.